Thermal container for liquids or solids



Jan. 4, 1944. F, -w PETR. f 2,338,455

THERMAL CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS Filed April 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Shes#J l A TTORNE Y 2 l 2.50 f L Z3 cz i() 3 .fm2-5 -7-9 Jan. 4, 1944. F. w` PETRI THERMAL CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS Filed April 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTQRNEY Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE THERMAL CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS Frederick W. Petri, Mahwah, N. J.

Application April 30, 1941, Serial No. 391,042

3 Claims.

Theinvention relates to thermal containers for liquids such as beverages, or solids such as foodstuffs, which are to be maintained in a heated or cooled condition for a period of time.

The object of the invention is to provide a container of the indicated type constructed in fa novel manner to maintain the contents in a heated or cooled condition for relatively long pe- 'riods of time without interference with the ready removal of said contents at will as may be required.

The invention contemplates primarily a container of the class mentioned in which the parts are capable of being readily disassembled and separated from each other to permit periodic thorough and efficient cleaning of the interiors of said parts, as may be desiredor considered necessary.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention without dening its limits,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the novel con- .tainer;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the outer cover of the container removed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. '1, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper end of an internal unit included in the novel container.

The novel container in its illustrated form comprises a double-walled casing or jacket l preferably of cylindrical shape and preferably made of a suitable metal. The casing or jacket I0 is constructed in av manner to provide an annular space containing a suitable insulating material II for the purpose of insulating said casing or jacket IIJ against the rapid dissipation of heat or cold from the interior thereof. The insulation I I may comprise any suitable material such as cellular rubber, cork, mineral wool, spun glass or any other commercial insulation. An insulated outer cover I2 is suitably combined with the casing or jacket I0 in a manner to be either completely removed therefrom or movably connected therewith so as to be capable of being adjusted to open and closed positions at will. In the preferred arrangement, a suitable sealing gasket I3 is located between the cover I 2 and the annular upper surface of the casing or jacket IU and suitable means, for instance in the form of releasable clamps I4, is provided on the casing I0 for detachably securing the'cover I2 in its closed position on the casing or jacket I0 in such a manner that the entire container may be lifted and conveyed from place to place by means of the' handle I5 with which said cover I2 may be provided.

The device further includes an internal unit consisting of telescopically combined cylinders I6 and Il, said unit in the assembled condition of the device preferably resting onan'insulating pad I8 of cellular rubber or the like. The latter vitself rests upon the bottom of the casing or jacket I0 and avoids metal-to-rnetal contact between the latter and said internal unit, Vand also provides additional insulation against the dissipation' of heat or cold. The outer cylinder I6 of the internal unit is formed with a reduced neck I9 and a horizontal outwardly projecting flange 20 from which an annular extension 2l projects upwardly as shown in Fig. 1. A gasket 22 of soft rubber or neoprene rests upon the flange 20 of theouter cylinder I6 of the internal unit and supports the outwardly extending horizontal flange 23 formed at the upper open end of the inner cylinder I'I of said internal unit, whereby said inner cylinder I'I is suspended telescopically Iinthe outer vcylinder I6 of said internal unit as'illustrated in Fig. 1. The parts preferably are so dimensioned and arranged that the cylinder I 1 terminates at a distance above the bottom of the outer cylinder I 6 of said internal unit. A second gasket 2d similar to the gasket 22 rests upon theange 23 and is engaged by a cover 25 which 'is detachably connected with the eXtension'ZI in any convenient manner as by screwthreading or by means of a conventional bayonet joint. AIn the preferred arrangement'the cover'25 is constructed in the form of a spider and is providedat spaced intervals with locking lugs' 25a having' inclined camming surfaces 25lo and co-'operating with lockaing projections Zia projectinginwardly from the annular extension 2| at spaced intervals as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. To facilitate the rotation of the cover 25 relatively to the' gasket`24 and tc avoid shifting or distorting of the latter, .when

said cover 25 is connected with and disconnected from the extension 2|, said cover 25v is'prefer- .ably provided with a metal or other suitable fac :ing in the form of a disk 25c rotatably mounted on the lower face of the cover 25, for instance, by means of a screw 25d 0r the like, Aas shown in Fig. 1.

With this arrangement the disk 25@ will rest upon the gasket 24 when the cover 25 isin place,

. and the 'latter will rotate on said disk 25C'as said cover 25 is rotatably manipulated to connect it with or disconnect it from the locking projections 2Ia. As a result this manipulation of said cover 25 will have no tendency to disturb the gasket 24. As the cover 25 is rotated to lock it in place, the camming surfaces 25h of the locking lugs 25a will engage the locking projections 2E of the annular extension 2l and in co-operation therewith will force said cover 25 against the gasket 24 and finally permit the locking lugs 25a to pass beneath the locking projections 2ia to thereby securely connect the cover 25 with the annular extension 2i. At the same time, the gasket 24 will be compressed and `in turn through the medium of the flange 23 will compress and bear against the gasket 22 to removably combine the inner cylinder I1 with the outer cylinder I6 of said internal unit. The cover 25 is preferably made of suitable plastic material and is arranged to lie substantially flush with the upper edge of :the.eXtension12I when the parts of the internal `unit are `fully aassembled. A filler tube 26 is .mountedonfandrcommunicates with the interior Vof\t,he',cy1inder It and has its upper-end screw'- threaded for the accommodation of a sealing cap 21, which, when slightly unscrewed, may admit ,air to the interior of the cylinder I5. A .similar-'emptying tube 28 is mounted on the cylinder I6 andcoinmunicates with the interior lthereofnand at its upper end may be provided v4with fanysuitable vitype yof valve controlled tap :or faucetf2g preferably provided with an annular flange `was shown in Fig. 1. The illustrated tap -or faucet 29 which includes the customary rotat- .zable v.controlling valve requires the container to beplaced ,onjtsside in order to enable the conl'tents ofthe internal unit to be withdrawn, and aobv'iouslymay 'be replaced by otherl well kno-wn ".formsof equivalent devices well known to those skilleddn the art. For instance, instead of the .tap lr.faucet :29 shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder :I6 maybe provided with a conventional tapping pumpincluding a plunger operated in any con- :venientfmanner to withdraw the contents'of the :internal unit :at will while the container is in itsnormal uprightposition. The internal unit Acomprising the cylinders I6 and I1 and associated elements is rmly clamped in place interiorly'of 'th'ecasing or liacket I0 by means of a -removable inner cover `.1H constructed and arrangedlto prevent undue radiation losses of heat or-cold from within the device. The inner cover 3| Jispre`ferably made in two sections so as to bereadily placed in position andiis provided with. vrecesses -'32 adapted to fit the `pipes 25 Aand 23 as shownin'liig. .12. The inner cover di maybe madefo'f Aany suitable material vand is preferabiy `constructed-of cellularrubber having a backing ofzme'tal'lla bonded theretoin any convenient mannengsai'd backing 3N preferably projecting outwardly beyond the cover 3l and extending over `and in surface yengagement with the end face vof `the casing Ill when the cover 3| is in its operative positionas illustratedin Fig. 1. The inner vcover 3! is removably'ixed in said operative positionby suitable clamps or catches 33 pivoted -at 34 upon the upper annular surface of thecasing or zjacket Hl, and preferably also by -tneiiange T30 of the tap 29 and the cap 21 `oftthe''lller pipe 25. The arrangement and dimensions preferably are such that the clamps or catches 33 when in operative position and the \fllange'3l! and .'cap 21 will compress the inner .coverfl into :engagement with the top `of the fcover2'5 o'f theinternal unit. The latter will thereby be forced into rm contact with the insulating pad I8 at the bottom of the casing I0 to thereby firmly x said internal unit in place in the casing or jacket I0 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

In practice, the inner cylinder I1 of the internal unit may be utilized to contain hot solid food suitably packed in nested containers or otherwise, and a heating medium vsuch as boiling water, ,or ,a hot `beverage may ybe contained in the outer cylinder I5 of the internal unit so as `to surround the inner cylinder I1 and thereby maintain the contents of the latter in a heated condition. vlnsuch case, the device may be used for maintaining the contents of the inner cylinder VI1 in a heated condition and at the same time may provide a heated beverage such as hot coiee orteain thecylinder I6 in the space thereof surrounding the inner cylinder I1. This hot beverage may be withdrawn from the outer cylinder IE in the desired quantitiesfat will by placing `the container `onits-side and opening the faucet or tap 2Q, `or by .Operating the previously Vmentioned conventional tapping pump while .the container `remains in its upright position. It willbe understood, in eithercasa'that the outer cover I2 has either been removed from the casing or jacket I0 or adjusted to van open position thereon prior to the operation ofthe faucet or tap 29 or the tapping pump or other equivalent device to withdraw the contents of the internal unit.

The innencylinder -I1 `mayalso be utilized to contain cold food or other materials, While a ycooling substance, such as ice water or any cold beverage maybe contained in the outer cylinder. Yso as to `surround theinner cylinder I1 therein.

In both of these instances the container serves the double purpose of maintaining food or other materials in a vheated or .cooled state and coincidentally provided a readily accessible supply of `either hot or cold beverage.

In addition, Ythe inner cylinder I1 `may serve as a receptacle for either ice or Dry IceV for cool- .ing a liquid contained in the outer cylinder I6 in the space surrounding said inner cylinder I1.

"Or the inner cylinder I1 may be filled'with boiling water or other heating agent to Supply heat 'for the purpose of maintaining the contents of the outer cylinder I5 in a heated condition. If Dry Ice 'is used 'for cooling purposes in the inner cylinder PH, it is preferable to provide'the cover or screw-cap 25 with an automatic vent of suitable type to allow for the release of pressure created'by the liberation of compressed carbon dioxide gas in such case.

The introduction of the liquids into the outer .cylinder l5 may be effected through the filler pipe .'26 `while the contents of the inner cylinder .i1 may be introduced through the upper open end thereof subsequent to the removal of the cover or screw-cap 25 therefrom.

-When it is desired to do so, the internal kunit may be completely `removed from the casing or jacket I!! by rst unlocking the clamps I4 and removing the outer cover I2 from said casing `it or by adjusting it to an open position thereon, and thenremoving the inner cover 3I subsequent -to the shifting of the clamps 33 to open inoperative positions. The entire internal unit may then be easily lifted from the casing or jacket II) and itself may be dismantled by detaching `and removing the cover 25 to thereby leave the inner cylinder i1 of the internal unit free-to be easily lifted or withdrawn from the outer :cylinder I6 thereof. Both the cylinders I6 and I'I may then be internally cleaned in an eiiicient manner without difliculty to thereby maintain the internal unit at all times in a clean and sanitary condition.

The internal unit consisting of concentric telescopically arranged cylinders I and I'I insures eicient action by the cooling or heating agents utilized therein, as the transfer of the heat or cold units must take place through the liquid in the outer cylinder I6 and through the insulation II of the outer casing or jacket I 0 which surrounds the internal unit before said heat or cold units can be dissipated. As a result the container is eiective for purposes of maintaining the contents in either a heated 0r cold condition for a maximum period of time.

The detachable combination of the cylinders I6 and I'I of the internal unit permits the latter to be readily separated at will for the purposes of cleaning the interiors thereof, thereby making this eiiicient method of temperature transfer available on a practical basis in an extremely simple manner.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such variations and modifications are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A thermal container comprising an insulated casing having an open end, a movable insulated cover for normally closing said open end of said casing, movable locking means for locking said cover in the closed position, a resilient insulating pad interiorly of said casing on the bottom thereof, an internal unit removably contained within said casing and consisting of separate sections detachably connected with each other for disassembling to render the interiors of said separate sections accessible for cleaning, a resilient insulated inner cover tting the open end of said casing in engagement with said inner unit, and means independent of said movablelocking means for locking said inner cover in place under compression independently of said movable insulated cover whereby said internal unit is forced into compressive contact with said resilient insulating pad and clamped in place within said casing.

2. A thermal container comprising an insulated casing having an open end, a movable insulated cover for normally closing said open end of said casing, a resilient insulating pad interiorly of said casing on the bottom thereof, an internal unit removably contained within said casing and consisting of an outer cylinder resting on said resilient insulating pad, an inner cylinder telescopically suspended within said outer cylinder, a cap removably connected with said outer cylinder and engaging said inner cylinder to removably clamp the latter in said outer cylinder, a ller pipe and an emptying pipe communicating with the interior of said outer cylinder and projecting upwardly therefrom beyond the open end of said casing, a resilient insulated inner cover comprising two mating sections fitting the open end of said casing and provided with cooperating recesses tting said pipes, and means for locking the sections of the inner cover in said open end under compression whereby said internal unit is forced into compressive contact with said resilient insulating pad and fixed in place within said casing.

3. In a thermal container of the kind described, an internal unit comprising an outer cylinder having an open end and a reduced neck, a horizonal annular flange projecting outwardly from said neck, an annular extension extending upwardly from said ange, a gasket resting on said horizontal iiange, an inner cylinder having an open end, an outwardly projecting flange at the open end of said cylinder resting on said gasket, a second gasket resting on said outwardly projecting iiange, a cover arranged to t within the annular extension of said outer cylinder, a disk rotatably mounted on the inner face of said cover adapted to engage said second gasket and to constitute a bearing surface for said cover, and co-operating means on said annular extension and cover respectively arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from each other by rotative movement of said cover on said disk to lock and unlock the cover and to connect and disconnect the two cylinders with and from each other, the rotative movements of said cover being relative to said disk to prevent disturbance of said second gasket.

FREDERICK W. PETRI. 

